Iran fired two missiles at Diego Garcia, perhaps their longest range attack. One was shot down by a destroyer, the other was clearly going to miss and was ignored. Iran had never admitted having missiles with such range.

Rumors persist that US Marines will be sent to grab the Kharg Island oil terminal, putting Iran out of the oil business. This could bankrupt Iran while spiking the begeezus out of gasoline prices.

By Eric Snyder (Esnyder) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 08:28 am: Edit

Steve, YouTube does have a list of the last 25 things you watched.

On the PC: You > History > View All
On the TV: Library > History

I don't know how far it goes back, but went back 12 months before getting tired of scrolling. On the PC, you can also search the history.

EDIT: I should mention that all of this only works if you sign in with an account.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 09:58 am: Edit

You know, it is really kind of cute that Carl Magnus Carlsson has such faith in the U.N.

In spite of literally decades of fraud, mismanagement and verified crimes of U.N., particularly many repeated examples of U.N. Peace keeping troops in various African countries raping and killing civilians.

It is beginning to resemble the classic Einstein definition of insanity : keep repeating the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.

That pattern of consistent repeated opinions by CMC (and other liberals) may be a sign of some sort of aberrant behavior.

At the very least, it is a very unhealthy characteristic of a group of individuals substituting logic and reasoning for an almost religious faith in the international bureaucracy.

By Dana Madsen (Madman) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 10:33 am: Edit

Stealing this general idea from a columnist I like to read at times. There are two viewpoints to take on the UN. The expansive UN which has grown it's bureaucracy over 75 years, trying to do too many things for which it was never intended and failing badly in many of those things. While they sponsor and launch major peace keeping initiatives that have worked well or they sponsor health initiatives or food programs for starving children. They also have some that, like you said, lead to mass corruption and have peace keepers (generally from 3rd world countries) committing rape. They have issues with UN organizations funding employees that commit terrorism. The UN human rights council gets led by nations committing torture of their own citizens and they pass useless proclamations to try and make others look bad.

The simple version, the UN was created to keep the major powers from fighting another destructive war that could become worse than WW2 with nuclear weapons. On the simple goal, the UN could be said to have shown 80 years of success but with the founding principles fraying over the last 20 to 25 years and taking a big hit in with Russia invading Ukraine.

Define your organization, on a simple goal, the UN has worked well. On a complex do everything for everyone, well, we have bad people/governments who we pretend are equal and have an equal vote. We have governments who will sell their vote on issues for foreign investment from China.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 11:27 am: Edit

The U.N. has had nothing to do with preventing a US-USSR nuclear war. That was prevented by deterrence.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 11:28 am: Edit

Eric, I had never known that. Genius trick, thanks.

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 11:36 am: Edit

It seems that Jeff Wile, in his haste to make fun of me have missed a few points I try to make, maybe I am at fault for not being clear that I am trying to explain things.
1. I have not said the UN is without flaws. It is however the only thing we got to keep some semblance of order in the world.
2. Law and Order is the foundation of prosperity, which the other nations, that use to be allies and friends to the US, believe in their bones. (It is what made them prosper after all.)
3. Naturally these nations take a dim view of those that no even TRY play the game.




"At the very least, it is a very unhealthy characteristic of a group of individuals substituting logic and reasoning for an almost religious faith in the international bureaucracy."
All I say to this is: Look in the mirror, Jeff.
You want talk more about that send me an e-mail.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 02:20 pm: Edit

Here we go again:

1. “…the only thing we got to keep some semblance of order the world.”

False, as pointed out above, deterrence is clearly superior.

Once again, you are welcome to your opinion. You are, however not welcome to create your own set of “facts” that are based on whatever liberal ideology or fantasy worldview of your own creation that by coincidence happen to support your opinion.

2. “Law and Order is the foundation of prosperity, which the other nations, that use to be allies and friends to the US, believe in their bones…”

It is now obvious that you ignore every aspect that does not support your fantasy.

The EU, UN and NATO have all been used to transfer wealth, under the guise of defense guarantees from the U.S. while shielding all manner of corrupt and fraudulent policies by various governments and politicians.

The shakedowns of Apple, Google and other American tech companies proved that beyond all possible doubt, and the successful detachment of Elon musk and his “X” /former twitter corporation proves that trusting any European bureaucrat is a waste of time.

3. “Naturally these nations take a dim view of those that no even try play the game.”

Again false. Look at Brexit (britain’s withdrawal from the EU.) and the list of nations actively working to separate from the EU morass of corruption.

The EU has done nothing but fill the purses of corrupt officials, reduce innovation, increase unemployment, and destroy democracy.

If the European politicians and bureaucrats succeed is destroying NATO and open trade with the United States, the economic results could well change the prosperity you brag about.

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 04:54 pm: Edit

Hm,
"You are, however not welcome to create your own set of “facts” that are based on whatever liberal ideology or fantasy worldview of your own creation that by coincidence happen to support your opinion."

Jeff Wile, we all get our ideas from somewhere, you too. (I recall Right wing talk radio was popular in the past, is probably podcasts now. There is twitter, of course. The left leaning people have mostly abandoned the plattform as being too toxic. By intent IIRC.)

The difference between you and me is that I don't have my ideas and opinions because I WANT to have them, neither do I feel threatened by you not sharing them.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 08:20 pm: Edit

Carl, chill, you are living in a created fantasy not consistent with reality.

By on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 12:05 am: Edit

Authentication Error

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 02:00 am: Edit

More countries have signed up on the joint declaration. Currently they are the: United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania, and Australia

https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/3/21/UAE-Strait-of-Hormuz

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 10:48 am: Edit

I go on vacation for a week, and come back to... this? Oof.

Anyway, I've kept up with the news (if not this BBS) while on vacation. The situation is... special. Very special. And I observed just how special on the drive home where I saw diesel prices approaching $6/gallon along US-24 in Indiana and Illinois, over a dollar more than when I went through a week prior. All of the "we pump enough oil on our own, Hormuz shouldn't affect us" stuff coming out of the administration ignores that oil is a global fungible commodity.

No amount of bombing Iran is going to bomb away the regime; their bench of replacement leaders is deeper than the Laurentian Abyss.

We still don't have anything resembling a clear, concise casus belli for this thing from the administration. If it's about regime change (which has been both claimed and denied), it's not doing it, unless the goal is "make them even more hardline than before". If it's about Iran's nuclear program, it (1) belies the "we completely destroyed their nuclear capability" claims of last summer and (2) doesn't really get the job done without boots on the ground - and lots of them - to seize whatever materials exist. Absent a strong public case for war, it's difficult to build up any public support for it. Absent a strong public case for war, it is entirely accurate for the world to do exactly what it's doing in calling this a war of choice.

One more thing - I keep seeing is comparisons between Iran and Vietnam, and those comparisons are inaccurate in one significant way: Donald Trump had a plan for getting out of Vietnam.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 11:29 am: Edit

A quick Google inquiry resulted in this:

Quote:” The United States is a net exporter of total petroleum (including crude oil, refined products, and natural gas liquids), but it remains a net importer of crude oil specifically. While the U.S. produces record amounts of oil, it imports crude for refineries to meet specific needs, exporting finished petroleum products like gasoline and diesel.
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov)
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov)
+3
Key Oil Trade Details:
Net Exporter (Petroleum): Since roughly 2020, the U.S. has been a net exporter of total petroleum products.
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov)
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov)
Net Importer (Crude): The U.S. still imports roughly 6-8 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil to supply refineries, according to EIA data and this MarketWatch article.
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov)
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov)
+2
Top Import Sources: Canada provides over 50% of U.S. total petroleum imports, followed by Mexico and Saudi Arabia, as shown in EIA data.
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov)
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov)
Refinery Needs: Many U.S. refineries are built to process heavy, sour crude oil, whereas much of the new, light, sweet crude produced domestically must be exported, as explained by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers.
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
+2
As of 2023, the U.S. was a net exporter of total petroleum products to international markets, according to the American Energy Alliance.”

In an earlier post in this thread, it was posted that Europe imports 10% of the oil shipped thru the straits of hormuz, China gets about 80% (accounts for 90% of total oil imports to China) and the U.S. at or about 2% (depending on the sources referenced.)

It was also noted that U.S, domestic oil sells at $90.00 per barrel at the time the World spot price of oil was at $110.00 per barrel.

It should be noted that the price of gas in the united states market has seasonal fluctuations (and the first day of Spring having occurred this week) often reflects increased gas prices. This has happened seasonally for decades.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 12:26 pm: Edit

The U.S. gas/diesel market is most assuredly subject to seasonal fluctuations, yes. Those fluctuations, however, don't hike the price a dollar in a week.

Yes, the U.S. is a net exporter of total petroleum... and that doesn't change the fact that oil is a global fungible commodity. U.S. oil companies are making serious bank on this, but that does precisely nothing to help you or I when we roll up to the gas pump.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 12:34 pm: Edit

If you block Hormuz, Portugal bids for US oil in the spot market, and the US price goes up.

That said, there is plenty of oil, the prices are going up from fear of getting even worse (FOGEW).

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 01:10 pm: Edit

Turns out Jessica is half right, since the year 2000, the average seasonal change in gas price is 50 cents per gallon for the period between February 28 to May 1st.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 01:40 pm: Edit

"...for the period between February 28 to May 1st."

Today is March 22nd.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 05:13 pm: Edit

I wonder how the European governments are feeling now that they are likely within range of Iranian ballastic missiles.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 06:56 pm: Edit

Nervous.

By Kosta Michalopoulos (Kosmic) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 07:29 pm: Edit

I suspect they are still way more nervous of Russian ballistic missiles.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 07:52 pm: Edit

The Russians have been warned that any ballistic missile attack on NATO members will activate a full NATO response.

There has not been a similar decision made concerning Iran as, up to now, Iran didn’t “officially “ have missiles with the range to hit Europe.

Now they do, and the decision cycle for NATO and the EU hasn’t caught up yet.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 08:17 pm: Edit

Not for nothing, but the West has known about Iran's Soumar long-ranged cruise missile for the past decade and the Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missile - which was apparently used in the attempted strike on Diego Garcia - for the past three years. The former has an effective range of about 3,000 km, and the latter about 2,000 km. Note, that's effective range; while the Khorrasmshahr-4 can theoretically max out at 4,000 km, it can't do so with anything resembling reliability or accuracy (as was seen in the failure of the Diego Garcia strike). Realistically, the farthest west Iran could lob a munition in Europe with any hope of effectiveness would be Greece.

Know who can hit Western Europe and is seriously irrational? North Korea...and they can do so with a nuke, if they're so inclined.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 10:47 pm: Edit

The info I got was that K4 is good for 2000km. Diego Garcia (and London) are 4000km. No one is sure what missile they used. It could have been a new one or a modified K4. They might have lightened the K4 warhead or just made the body longer to hold more fuel. Iraq did similar things to scuds.

Iran’s leaders are on a mission from God and don’t care about retaliation.

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Monday, March 23, 2026 - 12:04 am: Edit

"World losing more barrels of oil a day than in two 1970s crises combined, says IEA chief

The head of the International Energy Agency is addressing Australia’s national press club now and says the public needs to understand the “depth of the problem” facing the globe.

Fatih Birol starts by saying the situation is now “very serious”, more so than the two oil crises in 1973 and 1979, and more serious than the gas crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

At that time, in each [oil] crisis, the world has lost about 5 million barrels per day, both of them together 10 million barrels per day. And after that we all know that there were major economic problems around the world. And today we lost 11 million barrels – so more than two major oil shocks put together.

Plus after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the gas markets\ – especially in Europe – we lost about 75 billion consumer metres, 75BCM. And as of now, as a result of this crisis, we lost about 140BCM, almost twice. So the situation is, if we want to put in a context, this crisis as it stands now, two oil crises and one gas crash put all together.

Birol adds that the crisis is also having a severe impact on other “vital arteries of the global economy”, including petrochemicals and fertilisers, which will have lasting impacts. "

Source The Guardian